DENVER – The hitting bug isn’t the only contagious thing in the Colorado Rockies’ lineup these days.
A viral infection has broken out in the clubhouse, sending catcher Wilin Rosario and infielder Josh Rutledge to the 15-day disabled list with high fevers and headaches.
To prevent the virus from spreading any further, manager Walt Weiss is telling his team to wash their hands again and again. Because high-fiving after big hits – such as Charlie Culberson’s walk-off homer on Saturday – could spread the infection.
“When you get a nasty bug like this, it tends to go through the clubhouse,” Weiss said Sunday before his team closed out a four-game series with the New York Mets. “We have some guys feeling under the weather, not necessarily at the level of Wilin and Josh. We’ve got a few different bugs running around in that clubhouse.”
Rosario was placed on the disabled list Sunday in a move that made room to activate right-hander Jhoulys Chacin, who began the season on the DL with a shoulder strain. Chacin was 1-3 with a 5.00 ERA in four rehab starts, two at High-A Modesto and two at Triple-A Colorado Springs.
So far this season, Rosario is hitting .239 with three home runs and 15 runs batted in. He also recently hurt his hand, but Weiss said that wasn’t a factor in him going on the DL.
“Strictly because of the virus,” Weiss said.
Rutledge was placed on the disabled list Friday, with the same sort of symptoms as Rosario.
“Those guys are running very high fevers with (the virus),” Weiss said.
Catcher Jordan Pacheco said he’s been taking vitamins, drinking plenty of fluids, getting lots of sleep and repeatedly washing his hands to ward off the possibility of catching the sickness.
“You know, pretty much the stuff you learn in elementary school,” Pacheco said. “We got a lecture about that the other day, to make sure you wash your hands.”
